For Immediate Release Media Contact: Mirriam Rafiq Braden January 13, 2016 (415) 546-6778 Ext
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Mirriam Rafiq Braden January 13, 2016 (415) 546-6778 ext. 376 Mirriambraden @ homelessprenatal.org Jazz violinist, Regina Carter’s Southern Comfort An Evening of Community & Celebration A Benefit for Homeless Prenatal Program Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 8pm Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes St., San Francisco, CA 94117 Tickets: $55-$135 • www.cityboxoffice.com/reginacarter Info: www.homelessprenatal.org San Francisco, CA… The Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) will present internationally renowned Grammy-nominated jazz violinist, Regina Carter, in a benefit concert for the organization on Saturday, February 27 at 8pm at the Nourse Theater in San Francisco. This event marks HPP’s first foray into both working with an accomplished artist of Carter’s caliber as well as the arena of large-scale cultural fundraisers. "A talented, charismatic player who is almost single-handedly reviving interest in the violin as a jazz instrument." — Los Angeles Times Carter, who has been praised by critics worldwide, is a recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Fellowship, has been a Resident Artistic Director at SF Jazz, and is a regular performer in the Bay Area. In addition to these San Francisco connections, her extensive musical tributes to her mother, family, and heritage offer synergies between her creative efforts and HPP’s organizational mission to empower families. For the past 26 years, HPP has been guided by its mission to, in partnership with families, break the cycle of childhood poverty. The organization joins with families to help them recognize their strengths and trust in their capacity to transform their lives. HPP believes that pregnancy creates an important opportunity for positive change for expecting parents. HPP has evolved into a family resource center, offering case management, prenatal and parenting support, family planning, housing assistance, domestic violence services, mental health services, substance abuse support, child welfare support, job training, a technology center, fatherhood workshops, a food bank, and other services. HPP has assisted low-income and homeless families, particularly mothers motivated by pregnancy and parenthood, to find within themselves the strength and confidence they need to transform their lives. HPP serves over 4,000 families annually: 50% report homelessness at intake, and 20% are pregnant. HPP has helped over 85,000 families break the cycle of childhood poverty. Approximately 85% of HPP’s clients are women of color. Over 50% of the organization’s staff are from the community HPP serves. HPP client quotes: “HPP gave us hope at a time when we didn't have any." “HPP has helped us a lot. This is my first kid and I don’t know what I’m doing so much so it’s nice to have support and help.” “HPP helped me to re-direct my focus towards my education and well-being. They helped me get back into school and taught me how to give back to my community.” HPP History: The inspiration for HPP took root in the late 1980s, when Founder/Executive Director Martha Ryan was a volunteer nurse practitioner providing prenatal care for poor and homeless women at a San Francisco shelter. The women she served were not accessing care during their pregnancies, placing their health and the health of their babies at risk. Ryan founded HPP in 1989 to ensure that these young women would deliver healthy, normal weight and drug-free babies. Ryan and her staff realized early on that the women who came to HPP experienced obstacles to personal and family stability that prenatal care alone could not address. Their pregnancies were invariably complicated by domestic violence, substance abuse, mental illness, child abuse, child custody issues, incarceration, as well as inadequate education, language, and job skills. These obstacles contributed to and resulted from the one characteristic they shared in common – poverty. Unless all of these obstacles could be addressed along with prenatal care, the health and future of their families would always be at risk. In addition to growing to become a leading service provider in the local and regional community, HPP has also built a noteworthy national reputation. The organization presents at various maternal and children’s health conferences across the country and is at the forefront of national dialogues and best practices related to poverty and family homelessness. •FAQs: www.homelessprenatal.org/about/faq •Past Press: www.homelessprenatal.org/topics/news/media February 27th Benefit: Regina Carter’s Southern Comfort Regina Carter is considered the foremost jazz violinist of her generation and pulls from a diversity of traditions, incorporating Motown, R&B, swing, and African folk songs into her solo work. Her continuous experimentation and her mastery of form have led her to work with musicians ranging from Aretha Franklin to Dolly Parton to Mary J. Blige. Carter has released a total of nine albums. She released her self-titled solo album in 1995, followed by Something for Grace, an album dedicated to her mother. Southern Comfort, her most recent and celebrated release, came out in 2014 and coincided with an international tour. Through this collection, Carter investigates her family history and reconnects with the folk tunes that her paternal grandfather, a coalminer, would have heard as he worked in Alabama. She explores the folk songs and spirituals of the South in Southern Comfort. Born in Detroit, Carter began studying the violin at the age of four. She played in the youth division of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and studied with violin masters, Itzhak Perlman and Yehudi Menuhin. Video: www.reginacarter.com/video • www.reginacarter.com ~ See next page for Calendar Listing ~ For Calendar Editors: WHAT: Jazz violinist, Regina Carter’s Southern Comfort An Evening of Community & Celebration A Benefit for Homeless Prenatal Program WHEN: Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 8pm WHERE: Nourse Theater 275 Hayes St. (Van Ness & Franklin) San Francisco, CA 94117 TICKETS: $55-$135 • www.cityboxoffice.com/reginacarter INFORMATION: www.homelessprenatal.org FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/homelessprenatal FACEBOOK EVENT: www.facebook.com/events/1705612223002133 PRESS: For additional press information or to arrange interviews, please contact Lisa Geduldig (415) 431-7363 or Cell: (415) 205-6515 or [email protected] .